Main navigation

vivalanicky

When it comes to an everyday makeup look, my motto is simple “less is more.” In a time where we have no time, I love products that get straight to the point, do what they do, and stay on all day without budging. I’m a a single mom, working 5 days a week so I’m hustling constantly that’s why these are my seven go to products for an everyday makeup slay.

It’s winter here in New York so you know what that means (burrrrrr). My skin has definitely been feeling it! Even though I have a combination complexion, these past couple of weeks have been frigid so I’ve been loving this super hydrating milky mist from Pixi.

My favorite way to use it is under my “foundation” so I have a dewy look without getting oily, so for me, this spray works as a hydrating boost as well as a prepping spray.

Okay so lets talk a little about the product I haven’t been able to put down since last spring (2017)! Rain, shine or snow, I am loving my CC+ Cream from It Cosmetics. When I first started hearing the buzz over this product my first though was “nah, one single product can’t do all that” — but man has the technology over at It Cosmetics completely changed my mind. This CC+ cream does all it claims to do, it gives the skin a flawless, full coverage glow that does not budge throughout the day. It also works as a concealer, so dark circles – dark spots – uneven skin tone GOODBYE. Definitely earned holy grail status, but then again most It Cosmetics product do in my book.

Now lets add back some warmth! For this I love using ABH’s stick foundation in espresso. I do the usual contouring lines around my face and blend, blend, blend. This foundation stays put, but it dries fast so you definitely have to work it quick. This shade is the perfect warmth for my skin tone but ABH has an array of shades to match everyone!

Now lets add some flush back to the face, for a while I was using a MAC blush but have recently found myself reaching more and more for the Galifornia blush from Benefit Cosmetics. It is a peachy tone that goes well on any skin tone, plus it has specs of glitter so it also adds some highlight to the apples of the cheek. Oh, and it smells so damn good!

Holy grail? I think so. ABH’s dipborw has been my eye brow holy grail for years now. I use one of the darkest shades — granite. This product is absolutely amazing, it stays put all day and night no matter what.

Now for lashes that go on for miles my favorite is the Superhero mascara from It Cosmetics. I’ve tried many, many, many mascaras in my life — from drugstore to high end and this one right here takes it home for the win. It might sound super strange, and I’m probably the only one who has noticed this but I think it works best after you’ve had it for a little while. At first the product is super smooth so it elongates your lashes for miles, but once it starts getting tacky it also adds volume. Hey, maybe it’s just me but I love my lashes with this mascara and I always gets nice compliments!

Finally, I end with lips. If you’re looking for a liquid lipstick that is out of this world then shop Huda Beauty. Seriously, this liquid lipstick is amazing. Not only is the color payoff bomb but the application is seamless and best of all NOT DRYING. Muse if my favorite everyday shade.

One of my biggest pet peeves about myself is having hair anywhere other than my head or my eyebrows, but we as humans tend to be very hairy unfortunately. I think I was like twelve when I first began shaving and like many could attest shaving sucks because you get “stubly” the very next day. There had to be a better way to get rid of all this unwanted hair.

When I was fifteen years old I discovered waxing. MAN was that a traumatizing experience, you see I’m the type of girl who is either “all in” or “all out”. So my first waxing experience was a full Brazilian….

Two thousand seventeen was definitely a slow content year all across the VIVA LA NICKY social networking sites and though I realize that I’m probably speaking to about two readers right now I am not sorry.

I am not sorry because two thousand seventeen was an amazing year for me. For all the time I was “away” from social media, I was whole-heartedly enjoying real life. I was reborn in 2017. I watched my daughter grow another year older, another year sassier. I accomplished goals. I made my family proud. I traveled. I read some fascinating books on dark magic and even dabbled in half ass brujeria. I tried new foods. I chanted my heart out. I laughed. I fell in love with life but most importantly I found myself.

I am not sorry for taking time to love myself and enjoy all that life has to offer. In 2017, I realized that not every little (or big) thing has to be published on social media to be acknowledged — sometimes things are a little sweeter and a little brighter when they are cherished and celebrated in private.

BUT please, don’t get me wrong! Logging on to my analytics sites and seeing how I lost over 2000 followers on Instagram and how my page views completely plummeted last year was definitely a wakeup call. I love my social media family, I am so grateful for every single person who has inspired and supported me. I am honored to have met affluent influencers and grateful to have had the pleasure to work with amazing brands.

I love doing this and I will never stop, I might take some breaks here and there but this is something that I really enjoy doing. I love sharing my life experiences because I know that I myself look for guidance in other people. I also really enjoy testing out dope product and gadgets for your entertainment. So if you’re still there, thank you from the bottom of my heart — I promise that in 2018 I will strive to find that happy medium.

For as long as I can remember, my hair and I have this love-hate relationship. On most day’s my hair is fine, manageable, bouncy and full of volume. Other day’s, miserable humid days, I contemplate going 2007 Britney and shaving it all off because of how frizzy it gets! I came across the HERSTYLER Straight Brush Pro on Instagram when a fellow blogger friend reviewed it. She gave it an amazing review and since we have similar hair types I was down to try it.

First impressions are everything and this straight brush did not disappoint, sleek black, very sturdy with ceramic bristles. Best of all it heats up fast (285º-430ºF), I made the mistake of testing it out with my bare hand and ended up burning myself so definitely be very careful when handling!

The way I love to use the herstyler brush is by sectioning my hair and brushing it from underneath first instead of on top, this helps keep volume while still straightening it. Also I found that if I twist the brush at the ends I get this wavy effect that you would normally get with thick curling irons.

My hair is pretty thick so I’m not the type of girl to pick up a ceramic straightener, especially since I enjoy my volume. This is the perfect tool if you’re like me, someone who doesn’t want the frizz but also doesn’t want sleek straight hair.